Introduction to the Special Issue: Fundamental Problems in Biocomplexity

Nonlinear Dynamics, Psychology, and Life Sciences -     

Book Review Fractals of brain,fractals of mind: In search of a symmetry bond. Edited by E. MacCormac and M. I. Stamenov. John Benjamins Publishing Co., Amsterdam/Philadelphia, 1996

Nonlinear Dynamics, Psychology, and Life Sciences -     

Happiness and Deep Ecology: On Noise,Harmony, and Beauty in the Mind

This article represents a reflection about the new perspectives opened by chaos theory in the relationships between ethics and esthetics within the philosophy of psychology. The roots of these perspectives can be traced from the foundations of Western philosophy: Plato and Aristotle, Kant and Hegel. The epistemological changes embedded in chaos theory can be as strong as the ones related to the Scientific Revolution represented by Galilei and Newton. Fractal thinking and physical phenomena, such as studies on the different types of noise, can start new approaches in the dialectics between ethics and esthetics, as well as their impact on human relations.     

Human Synchronization Maps—The Hybrid Consciousness of the Embodied Mind

We examine the theoretical implications of empirical studies developed over recent years. These experiments have explored the biosemiotic nature of communication streams from emotional neuroscience and embodied mind perspectives. Information combinatorics analysis enabled a deeper understanding of the coupling and decoupling dynamics of biosemiotics streams. We investigated intraindividual and interpersonal relations as coevolution dynamics of hybrid couplings, synchronizations, and desynchronizations. Cluster analysis and Markov chains produced evidence of chimaera states and phase transitions. A probabilistic and nondeterministic approach clarified the properties of these hybrid dynamics. Thus, multidimensional theoretical models can represent the hybrid nature of human interactions.